2012

One of the main goals of the ALMA Telescope is to detect life-related substances in the universe. ALMA observation results are expected to contribute greatly to "astrobiology", which studies the origin and evolution of life in the universe.

A Japanese TV show called "Another Sky" features the visit of Associate professor Takeshi Naganuma, a biologist who has profound knowledge of astrobiology, to the ALMA Telescope in early December. Since the ALMA construction site in Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on the Earth, he also conducted a survey of air to find airborne bacteria living in such an extreme environment during his visit. Together with the ALMA Telescope, you can see the great nature of Atacama Desert in the program.

The picture shows Masao Saito, an associate professor at NAOJ Chile Observatory (right), explaining the ALMA Telescope to Naganuma (middle) in the array control room at the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF).